The passage offers support for the inference that Oersted was:
Show Hint
- From a family of Danish origin
- Younger than most experimenters
- Well-known in the scientific community
- Not initially aware of the nature of the relationship between electricity and magnetism
- Employed primarily as a physicist
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question asks for an inference based on the text. An inference is a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning. We need to find the statement about Oersted that is best supported by the information given in the passage.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
We must evaluate each option against the evidence in the passage.
\[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{(A) From a family of Danish origin: The passage mentions his pamphlet was published in Danish, and his name is Danish, but this doesn't directly support an inference about his family's origin. It's plausible but not directly supported by the provided text. } \\ \bullet & \text{(B) Younger than most experimenters: The passage provides no information about Oersted's age relative to his contemporaries. } \\ \bullet & \text{(C) Well-known in the scientific community: The passage states that Oersted "forwarded [his pamphlet] simultaneously to the learned societies and outstanding scientists all over Europe." The fact that he had these connections and that his work was rapidly published in multiple languages suggests he was a respected and well-known figure who would be taken seriously. This is a strong inference. } \\ \bullet & \text{(D) Not initially aware of the nature of the relationship...: This is directly contradicted by the passage, which states, "Hans Christian Oersted himself held this latter opinion, and had been seeking electromagnetic relationships more or less deliberately for several years..." } \\ \bullet & \text{(E) Employed primarily as a physicist: The passage refers to him as a "natural philosopher," which was a common term for scientists at the time, but it does not specify his primary employment or field. } \\ \end{array}\]
Step 3: Final Answer:
The evidence that Oersted sent his work directly to prominent scientists and societies across Europe most strongly supports the inference that he was a well-known and respected member of the scientific community.
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